Solicitor/Associate in Edinburgh

Shepherd and Wedderburn are currently recruiting for a Solicitor / Associate (3-5 PQE) in our rural property department at our office in Aberdeen or Edinburgh. This role will include the provision of effective legal service to clients of the firm, using knowledge, understanding and experience to advise on rural property transactions and partnership matters. This will include the sale and purchase of forestry, farms and estates, assisting with natural capital transactions, assisting with succession planning, advising landlords and tenants on agricultural tenancies and dealing with renewable energy developments.

Candidate Profile

• Exceptional time management skills
• Exceptional communication skills
• Rural experience not essential but candidate must have property law experience.

Technical/Legal Skills

• Demonstrates appropriate range of legal knowledge and recognises when to raise concerns relating to work with the supervising solicitor.
• Has excellent attention to detail and understands the importance of accuracy and the consequences/risks of carelessness.
• Demonstrates initiative to obtain relevant information to complete tasks.
• Ability to present legal information in an understandable format with guidance, and produces communications which meet client or supervising solicitor instructions following internal protocols, conventions and using required styles or other precedents.

Business/Work Management

• Works as part of a team to attain objectives within agreed timescales and budgets.
• Keeps the supervising solicitor fully informed on a regular basis.
• Complies with all firm policies and procedures, including financial.
• Ensures personal WIP effectively administered; consults on billing; accurately administers timesheets.
• Generates and implements improvements in working methods.
• Prepares well for meetings with guidance.
• Makes effective use of the firm’s information management systems, and complies with all legal and regulatory requirements.

Business Development & Client Relationship Management

• Has an understanding of client care issues.
• Communicates client feedback to supervising solicitor.
• Has an understanding of value of activity versus time spent.
• Participates in marketing/BD activities where appropriate.

People Management

• Takes responsibility and will provide professional and/or personal support as appropriate.
• Communicates effectively with the supervising solicitor, clients, court clerks, the other side, and relevant bodies or authorities.
• Develops an effective personal presence with partners and colleagues.
• Interacts positively with colleagues in other sections.
• Maintains positive working relationships with clients.
• Supports diversity & inclusion within the team.

Personal Development and Knowledge Management

• Completes appropriate CPD hours.
• Ability to maintain an adequate and up to date understanding of relevant law, policy and practice, and to identify where legal research is required.
• Takes responsibility for personal learning and development, evaluates strengths and limitations in relation to the demands of their work, and reflects on and learns from others.
• Undertakes personal study/research to address gaps in knowledge.
• Ability to utilise internal/external knowledge resources e.g. libraries, daily current awareness/plc newsletter etc.
• Contributes to firm knowledge resources.

Ethics, professionalism and judgment

• Recognition of ethical issues and will raise with appropriate person.
• Demonstrates an understanding and application of the ethical concepts which govern their role and behaviour as a paralegal.
• Identifies the relevant SRA or LSS principles and rules of professional conduct, and seeks assistance in applying them.
• Resists pressure to condone, ignore or commit unethical behaviour.
• Respects diversity, and acts fairly and inclusively.
• Discloses when work is beyond their personal capability and recognises when they have made mistakes and takes appropriate action.
• Seeks expert advice when required, and makes effective use of feedback, guidance and support received.

Firm Contribution

• Awareness of and, where appropriate, participates in development of team’s operational goals.
• Displays an awareness of organisational goals and has an engaged commitment to team goals.
• Participates in extra-practice events to assist development of firm.
• Participates in CSR activities.

To view the full details of the role and submit an application, please click apply.